What You Need to Know before Driving in Iceland in Winter

Are you feeling a bit adventurous and planning on driving yourself in Iceland this winter? Then this post is a must read for you.

Driving in Iceland in the winter can be dangerous. Often the weather gets crazy and the roads snowy or icy. Or both. If you then add some strong wind to the icy roads, well then you’re facing a challenge for sure.

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That’s why you as a driver have a huge responsibility and always always need to keep a close eye on the weather forecast and the road conditions. It changes fast, so checking once a day may sometimes not even be enough.

3 Important Websites You Need to Pay Close Attention to

When in Iceland during winter, always check out these websites before hitting the road and do NOT ignore the warnings if there are any.

safetravel.is

The official source for safe adventure in Iceland.

road.is

Everything you need to know about the road conditions around the country.

en.vedur.is

Weather forecast. The Icelandic Meteorological Office homepage

The F-roads Are Closed in Winter

It’s important to note that the F-roads aren’t open year round. When they open depends on the weather and the roads’ condition each year. That means the opening date can vary from one year to the next. It also varies from one F-road to another. Usually they open sometime in June and close again sometime in September.

So if you are planning on visiting the Icelandic Highlands, you need to come be here in the summer. And to be absolutely sure the F-roads are open, you need to visit in July or August.

Be Flexible with Your Plans

If the weather gets bad, roads can be closed. If they are icy it takes inevitably longer to drive from A to B as you can’t drive as fast as you otherwise could. This means that your itinerary might have to be a bit flexible. At least it could be a good idea to consider having a plan B ready. Just in case if your original plan should get interrupted by the unpredictable weather on this stormy island of ours. That is after all, one of the perks of driving a rental. You can be, at least to some extent, somewhat flexible in your planning. 

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Don’t Be Afraid – Just Be Careful

That being said, you shouldn’t decide not to drive just because it is winter. It’s indeed more of a challenge than in summer, and in my opinion you shouldn’t do it if you’re not used to driving in general. But if you are, simply proceed with caution, follow the weather warnings and drive safely.

Tip #1

Always have some water and snacks with you in the car. If you get stuck somewhere at least you won’t be hungry.

If you feel uncomfortable, simply slow down. If you on the other hand decide to stop the car, do NOT do it in the middle of the road. It creates an unnecessary danger for you and others if you stop your car in the middle of the road. So please avoid doing that at all times. Find a pull-out or a small side road. There are plenty of those all around. 

Drive safe and have a trip of a lifetime!

Tip #2

Never drive low on gas. Often there is a long distance between gas stations and in winter you never know if you might get stuck on the road because of a snow storm.

PS. Do you know somebody who might find this information useful? If you do, please help me spread the word. I would really appreciate it if you’d share it on social media by using one of the small icons here down below. 

Until next time!